Sleepless nights accompanied by stressed-out mornings can take their toll on students, but the reward of spring break after finals is motivation enough to get through the last stretch of exams. Whether you’re heading home or you’re off to a vacation spot, the best thing about spring break is getting the chance to embrace your worry-free environment, even if it is for just a week. But even in the week you’re gone, crime is still prevalent in Eugene.

An annual report from the Eugene Police Department shows that both theft and burglary increased from 2011-2012. Fifty-seven more burglaries were reported in 2012, putting the total number reported for the year at 1,442. The number of reported thefts saw an even greater increase from 5,776 in 2011 to 5,923 in 2012.

There’s no immunity to crime, even if you live on campus. The University of Oregon Police Department reports that the 28 burglaries reported on, or around the UO campus in 2010 increased to 51 reported burglaries in 2011. The number has increased, but both city and campus statistics are relatively low compared to the population of Eugene and the UO. The UO Police Department wants to make sure those statistics are even lower.

Last week, UOPD sent a mass email to students regarding how to keep their place safe over the break. It gives some basic suggestions, such as locking your doors and windows, but it also gives tips on how to keep burglars away from your place while you’re gone. Since spring break’s only one week, you probably won’t be bringing a majority of your valuables along. If that’s the case, be sure to keep your valuables out of plain sight and remember to close your blinds when you leave.

If you don’t plan on taking your car with you, be sure to keep it in a secure parking lot that is well lit and not secluded. Fortunately, car thefts in Eugene have gone down from 590 in 2011 to 455 in 2012. Simply remembering to set up your car alarm before leaving could prevent you from becoming part of the statistic. If your car is old enough to not have a car alarm, you can buy a steering wheel locking device from the Eugene Police Department for $12.50.

These tips are simple enough and they might sound more like common sense than anything else. But the closer it gets to the end of finals week, the more tired and eager students are to leave for break. What sounds like common sense now might not even go through your mind after you’ve finished your third final.